STATEMENT by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. N.Nazarbayev at the UNSC thematic briefing: “Non-Proliferation of WMD: Confidence Building Measures”

We consider Kazakhstan’s election as a non-permanent member
and today’s presidency in the UN Security Council as a sign of trust of the
international community to our country and our peaceful policy. And I would
like to thank those Member-states that supported us.

As the first state from Central Asia in this noble mission we
have become the voice of the countries of our region in this important body of
the global organization.

A year has passed since Kazakhstan started its term in the
UNSC.

We have strived to be proactive, constructive and objective
in tackling pressing issues present on the Agenda of the Council.

While chairing Committees on Afghanistan/Taliban, ISIL/DA’ESH,
Al-Qaida and Somalia/Eritrea we have been making our contribution to their
productive proceedings.

I am grateful to all Council Members for their continued
cooperation.

[In Russian]

Distinguished Ladies and
Gentlemen!

Today’s meeting is the flagship event of Kazakhstan’s
presidency at the UNSC and is specifically dedicated to one of the most
pressing topics on contemporary global agenda.

Confidence-building
measures aimed at achieving the goals of peace and security play key role in conflict prevention and resolution of pressing
global issues.

At the 47th session of UN General Assembly I proposed
to establish the regional structure for security
and confidence-building measures in Asia (CICA).

This mechanism was created as a result of thorough diplomatic
action.

Presently the CICA is successfully functions bringing
together 26 states of the region.

Quarter of a century later I speak again at the UN on behalf
of Kazakhstan as a non-permanent member
of the Security Council.

I can’t help but state that cause of increasing mutual
confidence among some countries, and at the global level remains acute and
is becoming ever more relevant.

Confidence-building measures should remain on the agenda as
the most important element in the maintenance of global security architecture,
enhancing peace at the global level.

Why so?

Firstly, confidence-building measures have justified themselves in the process of preventing the threat of
total destruction in the second half of the twenty-first century when humankind
was at the brink of a large-scale war.

The UN Charter states that our main goal is to “save the succeeding
generations from the scourge of war”.

Over quarter of a century at the UN system my country has
made a sweeping transition from an owner of the world’s fourth largest nuclear
arsenal to a leader in global non-proliferation at the same time closing down
the largest nuclear test site in Semipalatinsk as you are aware.

Renunciation of nuclear weapons and the status of a nuclear
power was our conscious and sincere choice, a voluntary act supported by all
the people of Kazakhstan and duly appreciated by the international community.

Presently, our country is a party to all fundamental
international treaties in the arena of nuclear security and has regularized its nuclear free status.

Secondly, the atmosphere of mutual trust may facilitate forming a new model of international cooperation.

A shining example and a practical embodiment of such
cooperation is the opening of the IAEA Low-Enriched Uranium Bank last
year.

With this Kazakhstan has made yet another contribution towards
strengthening the non-proliferation regime and safe use of uranium for peaceful
uses.

Thirdly, nuclear free path of Kazakhstan may become an example and
serve as a practical guidance to other countries. I am speaking from my
own example.

We have both built and strengthened our independent country, achieved
its high international standing by renouncing nuclear weapons and securing non-aggression
safeguards from nuclear powers. We call upon all other countries to follow our
example. We called upon Iran once, and now we call upon North Korea. Those
nuclear bombs and rockets do not possess real power and they are abundant in
the world. This does not provide true protection. Protection is provided
through the trust of the international community.

Fourthly, current possibilities of progress in Science and Technology
and realities of globalization make the task of WMD non-proliferation a matter of humanity’s survival.

Increase in the number of countries possessing WMD creates a
risk of nuclear, chemical, biological and radiological weapons falling into the
hands of destructive forces.

The present day legal framework failed to prevent the
expansion of the “Nuclear Powers Club” in the late XX century.

I believe that the so-much needed for strengthening of the
non-proliferation regime based on Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons (NPT) shall require deep mental changes, new multilateral political
solutions.

I would suggest the
following measures to enhance confidence
in the field of non-proliferation.

First. I find it necessary to
make withdrawal from NPT more difficult.

The example of North Korea may prompt to a similar
action other countries with ambitions to possess nuclear weapons. We know how
many states today possess threshold status.

Without doubting NPT, I suggest considering a possibility of crafting a special UNSC resolution setting
forth implications for the countries in breach of the Treaty (including
sanctions or other coercive measures). We can all see the necessity of it. The
presence of international law agreements did not prevent some countries such as
India and Pakistan from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Second. We should develop a
truly effective mechanism of applying stringent measures against acquiring
and proliferating WMD.

Such multilateral treaties shall be approved by certain UNSC
resolutions.

As a main measure to remove incentives for possessing WMD, I
believe it is necessary to develop a
legally binding system of safeguards by nuclear powers to those states who
would voluntarily renounce possessing nuclear weapons as well as to the states
with non-nuclear status. This is fair and can be done without significant
expenditures.

Third. Success or failure of the process of modernization of the
global security system directly depends on the ability of the international
community to overcome militarist anachronisms.

We should leave behind
division of countries into military blocks, whose existence becomes provocative
and meaningless.

This is specifically where we need trust among states that is weakening with every passing year.

I have put forward my vision of global anti-military measures
last year in the Manifesto entitled “The
World. Twenty-First Century” that proposes actions facilitating building a
nuclear weapon free world by the UN Centenary. If the international community
shall render its support and unity I believe that this goal is attainable.

Fourth. We should definitely
bring political trust and a systemic dialogue back to the international
affairs.

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) may serve as a good example. The Iran nuclear deal
has demonstrated a possibility of a successful multilateral diplomacy in the
sphere of non-proliferation.

It became a practical example in solving most complicated issues
through negotiation.

This agreement became possible thanks to the atmosphere of
trust establishing which is where Kazakhstan had made its contribution as well
and by doing so gained the trust of the international community.

I hope for further successful implementation of the JCPOA
regardless of certain complications with fulfillment of their obligations by
some of the parties to this Agreement. As you may know, two days ago I
discussed this matter during my meeting with President D.Trump. I came to the
understanding that we can surmount this issue.

A similar constructive approach, in our opinion, may be
applied in the matter of settlement of North Korea’s nuclear problem.

It is known, that current developments on the Korean Peninsula demonstrate deep
contradictions.

The world is deeply concerned. This problem can be resolved
by restoring trust among the United States, Russia and People’s Republic of China.
This matter was discussed recently in the White House as well. I believe that
our positions converged on this issue. Without the participation of the United
States, Russia and China we will have
difficulties in resolving this issue.

In this regard, we call upon the stakeholders to reach earliest
and constructive settlement of the North Korean issue.

We stand for granting by “the Nuclear Five” security
guarantees to the DPRK as an important condition for creating an atmosphere of
trust for Pyongyang to return
to the negotiations table.

Should the need arise for the stakeholders Kazakhstan stands ready to provide a
platform for negotiations.

Confidence-building measures are also relevant as never
before for the Middle East where dramatic events are unfolding today.

The conflict in Syria leads to negative implications far
beyond the region.

It is noteworthy that mutual trust has become the basis for the Astana platform dialogue which is
making its fair share of contribution to the process of Syria peace settlement,
augmenting Geneva negotiations.

Seven rounds of talks have taken place in Astana and
according to the participants they were all successful and to a certain degree
facilitated the solution to the issue.

Fifth. I believe that one of the most effective measures in
combating the spread of WMD is the
creation of nuclear free zones.

This constitutes a sign of collective trust. We have done so
in Central Asia. I hope we will receive proper protection from the nuclear
powers in exchange for such action.

I find it important to continue the pursuit of creating a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle
East.

I call upon stakeholders to resume the work and I hope that
differences remaining among some countries will soon be surmounted.

Sixth. Today there is a risk of a new wave of arms race using
scientific achievements.

In this regard the international community should strengthen
control over the creation and proliferation of new military and information technologies.

I believe that confidence-building measures are also needed
in forging common approaches to prevention of militarization of outer space.

All those issues that I brought up earlier in my opinion
merit for a dedicated UN meeting where we can discuss the emerging issues,
converging the opinions and restoring trust among states.

Distinguished ladies
and gentlemen!

Today’s realities are such that many conflicts may be
prevented and effectively settled provided that mutual understanding and trust
among the world’s nuclear powers is restored.

They bear the highest responsibility in the face of humanity
to prevent a nuclear disaster. Largest nuclear powers particularly should be at
the forefront of the struggle for the nuclear-free world, and show an example
of WMD reduction.

However it doesn’t mean that other countries shall stand on
the sidelines, as if little depends on them. On the other side, if the great
nuclear powers keep stating their intent to retain their nuclear status and
modernize their weaponry whilst everyone else is banned from doing so, it will
not work well. This is why I call to move in the right direction and cooperate.

The Global community is
a single body, strong in its diversity and
pluralism that can survive and strive when there is balance and harmony among
nations and peoples living on this planet.

Here is why we have to jointly strive for a safer world and equitable
world order based on rule of international law.

Undoubtedly, in this matter a special role and a historic mission lays with UN Security Council.

I am convinced that in the twenty-first century humanity is
capable of walking a dignified path to the world free from the threat of WMD.

I believe that trust, willpower and intelligence of the
global community multiplied by the energy of collective action will prevent our
planet from stepping into the abyss of global catastrophe.

Thank you very much for
your attention, distinguished ladies and gentlemen.